Limited use firearm

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm including, but not limited to limiting a number of rounds a firearm can fire, wherein after a certain number of rounds have been fired, the firearm is rendered incapable of firing more rounds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application, Ser. No. 60/910,854, filed Apr. 10, 2007, which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to firearms, and particularly toa firearm that is limited in the number of shots that can be fired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Firearms, such as handguns and rifles, are designed for years ofreliable service for use by law enforcement personnel and law-abidingcitizens.

A disposable, single shot gun has also been proposed. A pistol, known asthe WWII FP-45 Liberator Pistol, was originally developed in 1942 forthe U.S. Army. It was a single-shot, smooth bore 0.45 caliber pistol.According to the Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FP-45Liberator, “An interesting fact about the Liberator is that thefactories could produce one faster than the weapon could be loaded andfired. The factory turned out a pistol every six or seven seconds whilstloading took about 10 seconds. Another variant of this gun was a twoshot version which never made general production. It had two chambers,where one would be fired and then the other slid into position to fire.This version is extremely rare”.

It is important to note that although intended for shooting one round,the WWII FP-45 Liberator Pistol was not rendered incapable of shootingafter firing one or more rounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a limited use firearm, as isdescribed in detail further hereinbelow, and seeks to limit the use ofthe firearm in manners different from the prior art.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention a method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm includinglimiting a number of rounds a firearm can fire, wherein after a certainnumber of rounds have been fired, the firearm is rendered incapable offiring more rounds. The certain number of rounds may or may not bepredefined. The firearm may be permanently or temporarily renderedincapable of firing more rounds.

After the certain number of rounds has been fired, a portion of a firingmechanism of the firearm may have a mechanical failure and become unfitfor use. Alternatively, an element disposed in the firearm may move to aposition that prevents a firing mechanism of the firearm from firing around or prevents a round from being chambered for firing.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the firearmmay be provided with a shot counter and the shot counter may trigger anaction to render the firearm unfit for use upon counting the certainnumber of rounds.

A warning may be provided before the certain number of rounds has beenfired that the firearm will soon be rendered unfit for firing.

A processor (controller) may be provided that controls deployment of theelement that renders the firearm unfit for use (or the shot counter),the processor being programmable by a user to set the certain number ofrounds to a user-selected number.

The firearm may be provided with a remote-controllable element thatrenders the firearm unfit for use after the certain number of rounds.

There is also provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention apparatus including a firearm including a firing mechanism andan element which is adapted to prevent the firing mechanism from firinga round after a certain number of rounds has been fired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a method for controlling the lifetime ofthe gun by limiting the number of rounds the firearm can fire. Inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, after a certainnumber of rounds have been fired, the firearm is rendered incapable offiring more rounds. The certain number of rounds may or may not bepredefined. The firearm may be permanently or temporarily renderedincapable of firing more rounds.

In one embodiment, after the certain number of rounds has been fired, aportion of a firing mechanism of the firearm may have a mechanicalfailure or stoppage and become unfit for use. For example, the sear orbreech block may become mechanically fatigued and break, making itimpossible to fire the firearm. Alternatively, an element disposed inthe firearm may move to a position that prevents a firing mechanism ofthe firearm from firing a round or prevents a round from being chamberedfor firing. As another alternative, an element disposed in the firearmmay move to a position that prevents a firing mechanism of the firearmfrom firing after a specific pre-programmed date.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the firearmmay be provided with a shot counter and the shot counter may trigger anaction to render the firearm unfit for use upon counting the certainnumber of rounds.

For example, the shot counter can be used to provide the firearm with alimited and/or programmed life expectancy. As another example, the shotcounter can limit the use of the firearm to a certain amount of rounds,and then can be released again for additional rounds, such as by anauthorized person resetting or releasing the shot counter.

The shot counter can limit the shots according to a certain date. In allthese examples, the shot counter can cause limited use of the firearm asdescribed above (e.g., a portion of a firing mechanism of the firearmhaving a mechanical failure or stoppage, the sear or breech blockbecoming mechanically fatigued, element disposed in the firearm movingto a position that prevents a firing mechanism of the firearm fromfiring a round, etc.) by being mechanically or electrically linked to anappropriate portion of the firearm (sear, breech block, firingmechanism, etc.).

A warning may be provided before the certain number of rounds has beenfired that the firearm will soon be rendered unfit for firing.

A processor (controller) may be provided that controls deployment of theelement that renders the firearm unfit for use (or the shot counter),the processor being programmable by a user to set the certain number ofrounds to a user-selected number.

The firearm may be provided with a remote-controllable element thatrenders the firearm unfit for use after the certain number of rounds.

There is also provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention apparatus including a firearm including a firing mechanism andan element which is adapted to prevent the firing mechanism from firinga round after a certain number of rounds has been fired.

Other possible applications of the invention include a person purchasinga firearm for a certain number of rounds and then returning the firearmto the manufacturer for service.

Another possibility includes limiting a shooter to usage of the firearmuntil a certain age (e.g., 75), whereupon the firearm is rendered unfitfor use until the person passes a sight/health examination, or simplyblocking the gun after a specific date.

It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, forclarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination.

1. A method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm comprising: limitinga number of rounds a firearm can fire, wherein after a certain number ofrounds have been fired, said firearm is rendered incapable of firingmore rounds.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the certainnumber of rounds is predefined.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the certain number of rounds is not predefined.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein after the certain number of rounds hasbeen fired, a portion of a firing mechanism of said firearm has amechanical failure and becomes unfit for use.
 5. The method according toclaim 1, wherein after the certain number of rounds has been fired, anelement disposed in said firearm moves to a position that prevents afiring mechanism of said firearm from firing a round.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein after the certain number of rounds hasbeen fired, an element disposed in said firearm moves to a position thatprevents a round from being chambered for firing.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said firearm is provided with a shotcounter and said shot counter triggers an action to render said firearmunfit for use upon counting the certain number of rounds.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein after the certain number of rounds hasbeen fired, said firearm is permanently rendered incapable of firingmore rounds.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein after thecertain number of rounds has been fired, said firearm is temporarilyrendered incapable of firing more rounds.
 10. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising providing a warning before the certainnumber of rounds has been fired that the firearm will soon be renderedunfit for firing.
 11. The method according to claim 5, furthercomprising a processor that controls deployment of said element, saidprocessor being programmable by a user to set the certain number ofrounds to a user-selected number.
 12. The method according to claim 6,further comprising a processor that controls deployment of said element,said processor being programmable by a user to set the certain number ofrounds to a user-selected number.
 13. The method according to claim 7,wherein said shot counter is programmable by a user to set the certainnumber of rounds to a user-selected number.
 14. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said firearm is provided with a remote-controllableelement that renders said firearm unfit for use after the certain numberof rounds.
 15. Apparatus comprising: a firearm comprising a firingmechanism and an element which is adapted to prevent said firingmechanism from firing a round after a certain number of rounds has beenfired.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein after thecertain number of rounds has been fired, said element has a mechanicalfailure that renders said firearm unfit for use.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein after the certain number of rounds hasbeen fired, said element moves to a position that prevents said firingmechanism from firing a round.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 15,wherein after the certain number of rounds has been fired, said elementmoves to a position that prevents a round from being chambered forfiring.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said elementcomprises a shot counter that triggers an action to render said firearmunfit for use upon counting the certain number of rounds.
 20. Theapparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a processor thatcontrols deployment of said element, said processor being programmableby a user to set the certain number of rounds to a user-selected number.